AggieKatie2 said:

---

No real good board for this topic.

I've been talking with my spouse about potentially homeschooling our 5th grade kiddo starting next year.

She's been attending a charter school since Kindergarten.

She performs adequately on state testing, but I have longer term concerns about her success. (Academically and as a person)

I like the idea of being able to teach her to mastery on a subject and not at the speed of lowest common dominator in class.

She does competitive gymnastics, so she gets 3-4 hours of athletic and social interaction 4 days a week.

Anyone have insight with homeschooling? Pros/Cons?

---

Homeschooling can go either way. I knew kids who were years ahead and kids who were years behind. It's all about the parents in those situations.

More importantly, they were almost all socially awkward. As kids, we could pick out the homeschoolers from a mile away. They were exceedingly socially inept because they had never had the natural socialization that kids get between the ages 5-12 that make up the bulk of their personality and social understanding. What made it worse (and makes it worse now that I see it as an adult) are parents who think their kids are perfectly normal when they are clearly painfully awkward.

So, if you homeschool, ensure the kids are constantly around large groups of other kids in teams and work settings. Team sports are great, but you also need that natural interaction that happens for hours each day in school settings. I know it'll be controversial here, but I'd also recommend having them surrounded by people who have different viewpoints. Try not to curate their experience. You can take the stress out of their lives, but then they will struggle with it as adults (something discussed ad nauseam on the board). Childhood is when we learn to deal with the world. Make sure they constantly have non-academic problems they have to solve and work with others on.

Teslag said:

---

I can't imagine not having the daily social circle I had every day growing up in school. Academics is important but there's also a social element to school that's hard to replicate on a daily basis.

---

Such an underrated post.

aTmAg said:

---

The "good" public schools of today are a shadow of the same schools from decades ago. And those were a shadow of private schools back them.

---

well you see from this thread we have learned that you just have to move to the perfect school district where they can learn keg stands and slay ass. Then your kids will be well adjusted to dealing with Africans and gender fluid types.

lmao.

BassCowboy33 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

I can't imagine not having the daily social circle I had every day growing up in school. Academics is important but there's also a social element to school that's hard to replicate on a daily basis.

---

Such an underrated post.

---

This has always been my contention. I think public schools need massive reform, but being a student in one prepares you to deal with difficult people and broken culture. That social element that kids get on an every day basis and how to navigate those waters is a huge part of growing up.

ts5641 said:

---

BassCowboy33 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

I can't imagine not having the daily social circle I had every day growing up in school. Academics is important but there's also a social element to school that's hard to replicate on a daily basis.

---

Such an underrated post.

---

This has always been my contention. I think public schools need massive reform, but being a student in one prepares you to deal with difficult people and broken culture. That social element that kids get on an every day basis and how to navigate those waters is a huge part of growing up.

---

Honestly, I think it's just as important as the academic aspect. Numerous studies have shown that high performers with poor social skills and ability to deal with people are worse for orgs/companies than mediocre performers with superior social skills.

Quote:

---

More importantly, they were almost all socially awkward. As kids, we could pick out the homeschoolers from a mile away. They were exceedingly socially inept because they had never had the natural socialization that kids get between the ages 5-12 that make up the bulk of their personality and social understanding. What made it worse (and makes it worse now that I see it as an adult) are parents who think they're kids are perfectly normal when they are clearly painfully awkward.

---

And it's quite clear the parents are as well, so that leads to a lot of the inability to see it.

ts5641 said:

---

BassCowboy33 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

I can't imagine not having the daily social circle I had every day growing up in school. Academics is important but there's also a social element to school that's hard to replicate on a daily basis.

---

Such an underrated post.

---

This has always been my contention. I think public schools need massive reform, but being a student in one prepares you to deal with difficult people and broken culture. That social element that kids get on an every day basis and how to navigate those waters is a huge part of growing up.

---

Indeed. The perfectly shielded bubble that many homeschoolers (not all) experience simply isn't reflected in the world they are being carefully curated to live in. Well, maybe not for the daughters. Their greatest expectation will be just a highly educated baby factory that will one day in turn homeschool her kids.

Teslag said:

---

ts5641 said:

---

BassCowboy33 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

I can't imagine not having the daily social circle I had every day growing up in school. Academics is important but there's also a social element to school that's hard to replicate on a daily basis.

---

Such an underrated post.

---

This has always been my contention. I think public schools need massive reform, but being a student in one prepares you to deal with difficult people and broken culture. That social element that kids get on an every day basis and how to navigate those waters is a huge part of growing up.

---

Indeed. The perfectly shielded bubble that many homeschoolers (not all) experience simply isn't reflected in the world they are being carefully curated to live in. Well, maybe not for the daughters. Their greatest expectation will be just a highly educated baby factory that will one day in turn homeschool her kids.

---

While this may be seen as insensitive and misogynistic, there's some truth to it and what some people maybe don't want to admit.

One theme I've seen from growing up and now regarding homeschool is that it's often the responsibility of the mother. And there always seems to be a heavy religious theme (you can clearly pick it up from the home schoolers that have shown up in droves on this thread).

Again, not criticizing or disagreeing with it at all as many religious people are devout to thinking this is the way - the wife will not work and will raise these children from womb to adult, devil-ridden society be damned.

We are a religious family and my wife works a full time demanding job. Does that make us lesser people? Sometimes we feel like we're judged by the "holier than thou" which is why we struggled to find the right church for so long.

This thread has definitely taken a turn overnight.

1939 said:

---

aTmAg said:

---

The "good" public schools of today are a shadow of the same schools from decades ago. And those were a shadow of private schools back them.

---

What are you basing this on?

---

Test trends compared to foreign competition.

AggieKatie2 said:

---

This thread has definitely taken a turn overnight.

---

There isn't anything inherently wrong with homeschooling; however, if you're a parent who wants to do it because you think it can shield your child from anxiety, stress, fear, and different perspectives, you're doing said child a disservice.

If you're doing it because you have a child who you want to progress faster academically, then it can be a good thing. As someone said earlier in the thread, they did it to focus on a heavily classical curriculum. You just have to go above and beyond to make sure that child develops socialization skills and the ability to deal with people of all ilks that they would encounter in the natural environment.

The homeschool families that I know of live in 2 camps:

1. Well rounded kids bc they also travel the world. Those kids have seen outside of their circle.

2. Insulated kids who only know what they know. And while it's great academically I'm sure…they are very naive to the world.

There is a lot of total and complete ignorance of homeschooling on this thread. I used to be the same way. We don't homeschool our kids, but we did make the move to private school a couple years ago and still contemplate the idea of homeschooling.

There was definitely a stigma around homeschooling when I grew up in the 90s (born in 85) and the homeschoolers I encountered were definitely strange, socially awkward, cultish, etc. That may not have been a fair representation at the time, but of the 10-15 kids I came across in my youth, about 75% of them fit that description.

If you would have asked me 10 years ago, I would have laughed in your face at the notion of homeschooling my kids, for many reasons folks have pointed out on this thread. Then something crazy happened, I actually got to know parents who were homeschooling their kids. Wild right?

The population of homeschooling kids is greater than ever, and the social opportunities are endless. Sports are never an issue (there are leagues everywhere). The kids of my friends are the most well rounded, respectful, and intelligent kids I've come across, and that includes all of my kid's friends in private school. I have come to appreciate homeschooling in ways I never imagined. The real world experiences they have encountered, places they've traveled (locally), hands on activities, critical thinking, PLAYING LIKE KIDS, etc.

I'm not here to convince anyone to do homeschooling (we don't currently), but I encourage everyone to step away from your preconceived notions as to what this is in 2025. Get to know families that choose this option. It may open your eyes a bit.

Quote:

---

Separately, once kids get to high school, there are advanced paths in schools where the teachers really are good at teaching a particular subject. How is Mom smart enough to be teaching AP biology, physics, calculus, foreign language, computer science, etc all at once? I can see it in the lower grades but not once the kids are older.

---

7 pages in and this canard keeps showing up. Homeschooling in the 2020s isn't like it was in the 90s...or even 2010.

And yes, I did see later someone attempting to help you understand to which you replied "what's the point? isn't that admitting you can't provide what the public school can?"

If your question is sincere, you should read through all the posts on. this thread again. You will find ample answers.

fixer said:

---

aTmAg said:

---

The "good" public schools of today are a shadow of the same schools from decades ago. And those were a shadow of private schools back them.

---

well you see from this thread we have learned that you just have to move to the perfect school district where they can learn keg stands and slay ass. Then your kids will be well adjusted to dealing with Africans and gender fluid types.

lmao.

---

Right! It's weird if you don't want to send your daughters to school with the boy whose father is trying to live out his varsity blues fantasies vicariously through his son.

This. Again, I've seen both sides. Recent former teacher, all my nieces and nephews have been homeschooled. Socialization is no issue - neither are sports, etc. It's not like most homeschoolers are sitting at home all the time. Most (all my nieces and nephews) used coops, informal teaching associations, etc. My mom is a retired public school teacher and teaches at the coop my niece goes to every day.

All the things that kids learn at public schools are mandated by the state or feds. Much of the material they learn is useless on the college level (I work for a university) or in trade schools, etc. Also, the great majority of teachers "teach to the test", because that is how they are evaluated. So, students really aren't learning critical thinking skills, or thinking outside the box - you know - skills useful for adult life.

Homeschooled students have so many more options to learn in a superior environment (no teaching to the test) - the majority of students who were homeschooled and came back to public schools that I taught were so much more well-behaved, more socialized, and way less immature.

There are a lot of people who are misinformed, and thinking about how homeschooling was when they grew up 20 years ago.

Quote:

---

I didn't read the entire thread, but what does the typical day look like when you homeschool? Do you have a set schedule with "classes" every hour with lessons where you teach in front of a white board? Do you ever just watch lessons on YouTube? If they are assigned to read something, do you just leave the room and have them sit there and read? I'm just genuinely curious as to the day to day details.

---

This answer is long and I apologize...but cracking through misperceptions is tough, as evidenced by this thread.

Alex is in 5th grade and for us it has been different every year.

In first grade we were enrolled in an online charter school (public school at home). He had a mix of science, English, math, and social studies lessons through a few different software platforms. We did weeks of road schooling camping from Oklahoma to the San Juan Islands and back. On the day he was studying volcanos in science, we hiked Capulin. He stood in dinosaur tracks in the Oklahoma panhandle. He learned about glaciers in Glacier National Park. I could go on and on.

Second grade, we had our feet under us a little better and still did some road schooling, but we also did more exploring close to home. He learned about preg checking cows, dairy farming, mushroom farming, robotics and controls design, and much more.

Third grade, we broke away from the charter school - the assessment testing had gotten to be 5 times a year, plus state testing and all of the curriculum was aimed at those tests (which he did great on). But we had become confident in other alternatives that gave him a better broader education and - importantly - fueled his natural love of learning and curiosity. He visited civil war battlefields, spent a day making cheese at a factory in Maryland, learned about lobsters on boat in Maine, visited capitol buildings in the New England states, and followed the Harriet Tubman trail. All the while doing an online 3rd grade curriculum.

Fourth grade, we felt that his years of occupational and speech therapy had equipped him with skills to handle a classroom, but we were in love with homeschooling at that point, so we joined a coop for one class. He picked history and loved it. so at semester break we added a science class, too. The adventures continued. He harvested wheat, cotton, and corn. He has been to multiple gins. He has stocked fish with the wildlife department. He camped in the giant redwoods, explored tide pools in La Jolla, and saw how campers were manufactured in Colorado - among many other adventures. Subjects not done at coop were done online.

Fifth grade - he takes English, Math, and History at coop. The rest of the subjects are done online. He visits a construction site once a month to see how a children's hospital is being built and had to complete a safety course to be onsite. Visiting the hospital he wanted to do something for the kids who live there, so he has raised over $7,000 to hold a fishing event. He has friendships with the wildlife department and CAST for Kids and the event will set up tanks on site at the hospital to let patients there experience catching a fish.

Coop is on Wednesday, Thursday we look at the assignments he has for the week and our calendar and make a plan for getting his work done. Sunday is his only day off from school work. M, T, R, F, S he also does supplemental lessons for other subjects on Miacademy and extra math work on Synthesis. Some of his work is done completely independently, some he comes to me on the things he needs help with, and some we do together.

Every night we read together. We mix between classics and topics he is interested in at the time. Our last book was about Greenland in World War 2 (not my favorite, but he liked it) and now we are reading Lord of the Flies (neither of us are big fans). Plenty of fun adventure books get mixed in, too. He particularly likes camping and survival stories.

Is he socially awkward? Yes, of course. He is level 2 autistic, after all.

But he is polite, can converse with adults, shop on his own, be a guest on a podcast, play with the neighbor kids, work in groups at 4-H, help kids younger than him, hang with his sister's college friends, meet with legislators to advocate on issues, and more.

Last year at this time he was at a Mike Rowe event and in an event center filled with everything from billionaires to CEOs to politicians to models trying to get Mike's attention, not only did Mike Rowe meet Alex, he sent an assistant to bring Alex back to talk to him some more. A multi-billionaire was standing in line like a fanboy while Alex was telling Mike about all the places he has been camping.

So I'm sorry if my 11 year old isn't slaying P and shotgunning beers*, but I'm doing the best I can.


*He did tour an Anheuser-Busch rice mill in Arkansas - any bro points for that?

MasonB said:

---

Quote:

---

I didn't read the entire thread, but what does the typical day look like when you homeschool? Do you have a set schedule with "classes" every hour with lessons where you teach in front of a white board? Do you ever just watch lessons on YouTube? If they are assigned to read something, do you just leave the room and have them sit there and read? I'm just genuinely curious as to the day to day details.

---

This answer is long and I apologize...but cracking through misperceptions is tough, as evidenced by this thread.

Alex is in 5th grade and for us it has been different every year.

In first grade we were enrolled in an online charter school (public school at home). He had a mix of science, English, math, and social studies lessons through a few different software platforms. We did weeks of road schooling camping from Oklahoma to the San Juan Islands and back. On the day he was studying volcanos in science, we hiked Capulin. He stood in dinosaur tracks in the Oklahoma panhandle. He learned about glaciers in Glacier National Park. I could go on and on.

Second grade, we had our feet under us a little better and still did some road schooling, but we also did more exploring close to home. He learned about preg checking cows, dairy farming, mushroom farming, robotics and controls design, and much more.

Third grade, we broke away from the charter school - the assessment testing had gotten to be 5 times a year, plus state testing and all of the curriculum was aimed at those tests (which he did great on). But we had become confident in other alternatives that gave him a better broader education and - importantly - fueled his natural love of learning and curiosity. He visited civil war battlefields, spent a day making cheese at a factory in Maryland, learned about lobsters on boat in Maine, visited capitol buildings in the New England states, and followed the Harriet Tubman trail. All the while doing an online 3rd grade curriculum.

Fourth grade, we felt that his years of occupational and speech therapy had equipped him with skills to handle a classroom, but we were in love with homeschooling at that point, so we joined a coop for one class. He picked history and loved it. so at semester break we added a science class, too. The adventures continued. He harvested wheat, cotton, and corn. He has been to multiple gins. He has stocked fish with the wildlife department. He camped in the giant redwoods, explored tide pools in La Jolla, and saw how campers were manufactured in Colorado - among many other adventures. Subjects not done at coop were done online.

Fifth grade - he takes English, Math, and History at coop. The rest of the subjects are done online. He visits a construction site once a month to see how a children's hospital is being built and had to complete a safety course to be onsite. Visiting the hospital he wanted to do something for the kids who live there, so he has raised over $7,000 to hold a fishing event. He has friendships with the wildlife department and CAST for Kids and the event will set up tanks on site at the hospital to let patients there experience catching a fish.

Coop is on Wednesday, Thursday we look at the assignments he has for the week and our calendar and make a plan for getting his work done. Sunday is his only day off from school work. M, T, R, F, S he also does supplemental lessons for other subjects on Miacademy and extra math work on Synthesis. Some of his work is done completely independently, some he comes to me on the things he needs help with, and some we do together.

Every night we read together. We mix between classics and topics he is interested in at the time. Our last book was about Greenland in World War 2 (not my favorite, but he liked it) and now we are reading Lord of the Flies (neither of us are big fans). Plenty of fun adventure books get mixed in, too. He particularly likes camping and survival stories.

Is he socially awkward? Yes, of course. He is level 2 autistic, after all.

But he is polite, can converse with adults, shop on his own, be a guest on a podcast, play with the neighbor kids, work in groups at 4-H, help kids younger than him, hang with his sister's college friends, meet with legislators to advocate on issues, and more.

Last year at this time he was at a Mike Rowe event and in an event center filled with everything from billionaires to CEOs to politicians to models trying to get Mike's attention, not only did Mike Rowe meet Alex, he sent an assistant to bring Alex back to talk to him some more. A multi-billionaire was standing in line like a fanboy while Alex was telling Mike about all the places he has been camping.

So I'm sorry if my 11 year old isn't slaying P and shotgunning beers*, but I'm doing the best I can.


*He did tour an Anheuser-Busch rice mill in Arkansas - any bro points for that?

---

You, my friend, and your son are winning at life. You are such an inspiration in all the cool things you do with your son. This is what excellent fathering looks like.

Again, if you guys are ever in East Tenn - look me up.

MasonB said:

---

Quote:

---

I didn't read the entire thread, but what does the typical day look like when you homeschool? Do you have a set schedule with "classes" every hour with lessons where you teach in front of a white board? Do you ever just watch lessons on YouTube? If they are assigned to read something, do you just leave the room and have them sit there and read? I'm just genuinely curious as to the day to day details.

---

This answer is long and I apologize...but cracking through misperceptions is tough, as evidenced by this thread.

Alex is in 5th grade and for us it has been different every year.

In first grade we were enrolled in an online charter school (public school at home). He had a mix of science, English, math, and social studies lessons through a few different software platforms. We did weeks of road schooling camping from Oklahoma to the San Juan Islands and back. On the day he was studying volcanos in science, we hiked Capulin. He stood in dinosaur tracks in the Oklahoma panhandle. He learned about glaciers in Glacier National Park. I could go on and on.

Second grade, we had our feet under us a little better and still did some road schooling, but we also did more exploring close to home. He learned about preg checking cows, dairy farming, mushroom farming, robotics and controls design, and much more.

Third grade, we broke away from the charter school - the assessment testing had gotten to be 5 times a year, plus state testing and all of the curriculum was aimed at those tests (which he did great on). But we had become confident in other alternatives that gave him a better broader education and - importantly - fueled his natural love of learning and curiosity. He visited civil war battlefields, spent a day making cheese at a factory in Maryland, learned about lobsters on boat in Maine, visited capitol buildings in the New England states, and followed the Harriet Tubman trail. All the while doing an online 3rd grade curriculum.

Fourth grade, we felt that his years of occupational and speech therapy had equipped him with skills to handle a classroom, but we were in love with homeschooling at that point, so we joined a coop for one class. He picked history and loved it. so at semester break we added a science class, too. The adventures continued. He harvested wheat, cotton, and corn. He has been to multiple gins. He has stocked fish with the wildlife department. He camped in the giant redwoods, explored tide pools in La Jolla, and saw how campers were manufactured in Colorado - among many other adventures. Subjects not done at coop were done online.

Fifth grade - he takes English, Math, and History at coop. The rest of the subjects are done online. He visits a construction site once a month to see how a children's hospital is being built and had to complete a safety course to be onsite. Visiting the hospital he wanted to do something for the kids who live there, so he has raised over $7,000 to hold a fishing event. He has friendships with the wildlife department and CAST for Kids and the event will set up tanks on site at the hospital to let patients there experience catching a fish.

Coop is on Wednesday, Thursday we look at the assignments he has for the week and our calendar and make a plan for getting his work done. Sunday is his only day off from school work. M, T, R, F, S he also does supplemental lessons for other subjects on Miacademy and extra math work on Synthesis. Some of his work is done completely independently, some he comes to me on the things he needs help with, and some we do together.

Every night we read together. We mix between classics and topics he is interested in at the time. Our last book was about Greenland in World War 2 (not my favorite, but he liked it) and now we are reading Lord of the Flies (neither of us are big fans). Plenty of fun adventure books get mixed in, too. He particularly likes camping and survival stories.

Is he socially awkward? Yes, of course. He is level 2 autistic, after all.

But he is polite, can converse with adults, shop on his own, be a guest on a podcast, play with the neighbor kids, work in groups at 4-H, help kids younger than him, hang with his sister's college friends, meet with legislators to advocate on issues, and more.

Last year at this time he was at a Mike Rowe event and in an event center filled with everything from billionaires to CEOs to politicians to models trying to get Mike's attention, not only did Mike Rowe meet Alex, he sent an assistant to bring Alex back to talk to him some more. A multi-billionaire was standing in line like a fanboy while Alex was telling Mike about all the places he has been camping.

So I'm sorry if my 11 year old isn't slaying P and shotgunning beers*, but I'm doing the best I can.


*He did tour an Anheuser-Busch rice mill in Arkansas - any bro points for that?

---

Can't give enough stars to this. Mason does homeschooling better than most, the best I've ever seen or imagined, but most of us homeschoolers do our version of this the best we can. Mason has made education fun and given Alex things that the public schools never would have. He doesn't treat autism as a disability like the system would - he makes it a superpower for Alex. Proud of you and Alex!

Teslag said:

---

ts5641 said:

---

BassCowboy33 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

I can't imagine not having the daily social circle I had every day growing up in school. Academics is important but there's also a social element to school that's hard to replicate on a daily basis.

---

Such an underrated post.

---

This has always been my contention. I think public schools need massive reform, but being a student in one prepares you to deal with difficult people and broken culture. That social element that kids get on an every day basis and how to navigate those waters is a huge part of growing up.

---

Indeed. The perfectly shielded bubble that many homeschoolers (not all) experience simply isn't reflected in the world they are being carefully curated to live in. Well, maybe not for the daughters. Their greatest expectation will be just a highly educated baby factory that will one day in turn homeschool her kids.

---

I get what you are saying here but my older brother was bullied so relentlessly and maliciously during his high school years to the point where I was worried he would commit suicide. I would find knives on his windowsill or under his pillow and on more than one occasion saw him holding it against his wrist. It took its toll on his self esteem and worth and it was years before he healed from that trauma. Luckily he made it through and is doing great now. Even now he refers to his time in high school as a prison sentence. He did very well academically and had a few close friends.

I think I (to be fair I was only 10) and my parents should have done a better to help him through that time but I just can't agree with a blanket statement that that kind of experience is something "everyone should go through". He has not experienced anything like high school in college and beyond so I also reject the premise that what you see in high school is what you see in the real world (some things sure but not across the board).

Better day to day example:

He just finished his math lesson on his own and came in to tell me one of the questions asked him the best unit to measure the weight of a dollar bill.

I told him I think a five dollar bill weighs 5 times as much as a single dollar bill and he told me my hypothesis was crazy, listing the reasons why.

I told him to prove it.

Which led to the picture.

And now he is collecting data on 10 different dollar bills and drawing conclusions about whether their weight changes the longer they are in circulation.

We are discussing sample size, unknown variables, and measurement error.

It's his curiosity and interest that is leading him, so he is having fun doing it (and fun proving me wrong).

But don't worry, TeslaAg - we will sneak some cigarettes in the bathroom later and I'll teach him how to hide the evidence from his mom.

MasonB said:

---

Better day to day example:

He just finished his math lesson on his own and came in to tell me one of the questions asked him the best unit to measure the weight of a dollar bill.

I told him I think a five dollar bill weighs 5 times as much as a single dollar bill and he told me my hypothesis was crazy, listing the reasons why.

I told him to prove it.

Which led to the picture.

And now he is collecting data on 10 different dollar bills and drawing conclusions about whether their weight changes the longer they are in circulation.

We are discussing sample size, unknown variables, and measurement error.

It's his curiosity and interest that is leading him, so he is having fun doing it (and fun proving me wrong).

But don't worry, TeslaAg - we will sneak some cigarettes in the bathroom later and I'll teach him how to hide the evidence from his mom.

---

That's awesome!

AccountantAg said:

---

Teslag said:

---

ts5641 said:

---

BassCowboy33 said:

---

Teslag said:

---

I can't imagine not having the daily social circle I had every day growing up in school. Academics is important but there's also a social element to school that's hard to replicate on a daily basis.

---

Such an underrated post.

---

This has always been my contention. I think public schools need massive reform, but being a student in one prepares you to deal with difficult people and broken culture. That social element that kids get on an every day basis and how to navigate those waters is a huge part of growing up.

---

Indeed. The perfectly shielded bubble that many homeschoolers (not all) experience simply isn't reflected in the world they are being carefully curated to live in. Well, maybe not for the daughters. Their greatest expectation will be just a highly educated baby factory that will one day in turn homeschool her kids.

---

I get what you are saying here but my older brother was bullied so relentlessly and maliciously during his high school years to the point where I was worried he would commit suicide. I would find knives on his windowsill or under his pillow and on more than one occasion saw him holding it against his wrist. It took its toll on his self esteem and worth and it was years before he healed from that trauma. Luckily he made it through and is doing great now. Even now he refers to his time in high school as a prison sentence. He did very well academically and had a few close friends.

I think I (to be fair I was only 10) and my parents should have done a better to help him through that time but I just can't agree with a blanket statement that that kind of experience is something "everyone should go through". He has not experienced anything like high school in college and beyond so I also reject the premise that what you see in high school is what you see in the real world (some things sure but not across the board).

---

This is reasonable. But there are opportunities there. My son went through some bullying last year from one kid. I told him the next time to just nail the kid in the face. Well my son did, and then proceeded to continue and whipped the kids ass and gave him a good country ass whipping. He got ISS. He didn't get punished at home.

The experience was good for my son and he learned a valuable lesson. One I'm not sure how you get in home schooling.

I wish I had gotten the opportunity to be homeschooled. But, we were dirt poor, and I had no options.

I was relentlessly bullied as a child. I was called names, etc, as I was the only person of Asian heritage at our school. I was also super shy, which didn't make it any easier. It's easy to bully a kid when he has to wear the same clothes all the time. So, I wasn't thinking of slaying anything. I was thinking of not getting beaten up for being poor and shy and surviving the day.

I was in a "good public school", but they didn't teach to my abilities. I attended a magnet school for 1 year. Parents would take turns driving us 45 minutes to the school (my parents never did). I made straight a's the entire year, as we had a variety of different programs and classes (had a computer programming class - when no one had computers - and an animal class). The school had students of a variety of ethnicities, and I thrived in the academic environment.

Went back to the public school - same old BS. They weren't able to teach to my abilities. I wasn't able to enjoy school again until graduate school.

Public school, by and large is a failed experiment.

How do I know that? Look at where the US is ranked in world education ratings. Our education system is a complete abomination.

You don't need to kick someone's ass or have a bunch of sex to experience life and gain valuable lessons as a highschooler. You just assume that homeschoolers don't hang out on the weekends. Don't clock someone during football practice. Don't want to slay a chick.

They go through a lot of the same challenges and struggles every kids do. Its a different experience than public school. I said it above, we don't homeschool our kids, but I have a ton of exposure to families that do. You have an old school view of homeschooling, the same one I used to have, until I got exposed to and understood it way more now than before.

MasonB said:

---

Better day to day example:

He just finished his math lesson on his own and came in to tell me one of the questions asked him the best unit to measure the weight of a dollar bill.

I told him I think a five dollar bill weighs 5 times as much as a single dollar bill and he told me my hypothesis was crazy, listing the reasons why.

I told him to prove it.

Which led to the picture.

And now he is collecting data on 10 different dollar bills and drawing conclusions about whether their weight changes the longer they are in circulation.

We are discussing sample size, unknown variables, and measurement error.

It's his curiosity and interest that is leading him, so he is having fun doing it (and fun proving me wrong).

But don't worry, TeslaAg - we will sneak some cigarettes in the bathroom later and I'll teach him how to hide the evidence from his mom.

---

Being completely serious here, this doesn't impress me. It's the exact type of thing that goes on every day in real schools.

MasonB said:

---

Quote:

---

Separately, once kids get to high school, there are advanced paths in schools where the teachers really are good at teaching a particular subject. How is Mom smart enough to be teaching AP biology, physics, calculus, foreign language, computer science, etc all at once? I can see it in the lower grades but not once the kids are older.

---

7 pages in and this canard keeps showing up. Homeschooling in the 2020s isn't like it was in the 90s...or even 2010.

And yes, I did see later someone attempting to help you understand to which you replied "what's the point? isn't that admitting you can't provide what the public school can?"

If your question is sincere, you should read through all the posts on. this thread again. You will find ample answers.

---

I've read most of the thread and didn't see the answer that you're claiming has been talked about over and over. My question still stands, if you can't teach kids advanced subject's and have to resort to online classes and hiring teachers I don't really see how that is a better option than a school, public or private, that provides that service.

1939 said:

---

MasonB said:

---

Better day to day example:

He just finished his math lesson on his own and came in to tell me one of the questions asked him the best unit to measure the weight of a dollar bill.

I told him I think a five dollar bill weighs 5 times as much as a single dollar bill and he told me my hypothesis was crazy, listing the reasons why.

I told him to prove it.

Which led to the picture.

And now he is collecting data on 10 different dollar bills and drawing conclusions about whether their weight changes the longer they are in circulation.

We are discussing sample size, unknown variables, and measurement error.

It's his curiosity and interest that is leading him, so he is having fun doing it (and fun proving me wrong).

But don't worry, TeslaAg - we will sneak some cigarettes in the bathroom later and I'll teach him how to hide the evidence from his mom.

---

Being completely serious here, this doesn't impress me. It's the exact type of thing that goes on every day in real schools.

---

Have you been in a public school classroom? Do you know what goes on in a public school classroom?

Same question for homeschool/private school.

Quote:

---

Being completely serious here, this doesn't impress me. It's the exact type of thing that goes on every day in real schools.

---

What we do is "real school".

And if you meant public schools - then great! Glad to hear it.

It hasn't been my experience that math class would stop down for an impromptu science investigation based on one child's interest, but if that is happening I'm all for it. Most of the teachers I know would love the opportunity and freedom to do those things, but are hamstrung by teaching to the test, schedules, teaching to the struggling, aiming to to middle, and/or managing behavioral issues.

MasonB said:

---

Quote:

---

Being completely serious here, this doesn't impress me. It's the exact type of thing that goes on every day in real schools.

---

What we do is "real school".

And if you meant public schools - then great! Glad to hear it.

It hasn't been my experience that math class would stop down for an impromptu science investigation based on one child's interest, but if that is happening I'm all for it. Most of the teachers I know would love the opportunity and freedom to do those things, but are hamstrung by teaching to the test, schedules, teaching to the struggling, aiming to to middle, and/or managing behavioral issues.

---

Having been a math and science teacher for 10 years, this is the truth. Having been around other teachers in a k-12 school - still the truth.

Quote:

---

My question still stands, if you can't teach kids advanced subject's and have to resort to online classes and hiring teachers I don't really see how that is a better option than a school, public or private, that provides that service.

---

There are many reasons people choose to homeschool and a litany of reasons have been discussed thus far.

Do I agree with all of them? No.

Is homeschool for everyone? No.

Is public school all bad? No.

Everyone's situation is different, they know their kids and family situation best, and they should gather all the information they can to make the best choice for them.

Of all the homeschoolers I know - a lot - none of them do it because they can personally teach every subject better than the public school. Not one.

Homeschooling gives me freedom and options. I don't have to pick from just what the public school offers - I have a whole buffet of choices. We can pace faster or slower as needed, we can do deep dives if want, we don't have to make teaching to a test a priority, and we can avoid a lot of the things that have made public schools unpopular.

And what drove us to homeschooling still applies. The public school can be a tough environment for an autistic kid and IEPs aren't the magic that some folks think they are. Our initial choice was driven by putting him in an environment he could cope in - which turned into an environment he thrives in. And along the way I've seen the possibilities homeschooling can offer and its made me appreciate it for other situations.

You keyed in on one random example from this morning and weren't impressed. That's fine. That's not the goal.

But the much longer post above that - are you going to tell me those things are typical for "real" school?

Do I really need to justify why I will enjoy having the option to have Alex take ACT prep at coop, concurrent physics class at the local university, online calculus, and free literature classes from Hillsdale.edu - as opposed to whatever his districted school offers?

1939 said:

---

MasonB said:

---

Better day to day example:

He just finished his math lesson on his own and came in to tell me one of the questions asked him the best unit to measure the weight of a dollar bill.

I told him I think a five dollar bill weighs 5 times as much as a single dollar bill and he told me my hypothesis was crazy, listing the reasons why.

I told him to prove it.

Which led to the picture.

And now he is collecting data on 10 different dollar bills and drawing conclusions about whether their weight changes the longer they are in circulation.

We are discussing sample size, unknown variables, and measurement error.

It's his curiosity and interest that is leading him, so he is having fun doing it (and fun proving me wrong).

But don't worry, TeslaAg - we will sneak some cigarettes in the bathroom later and I'll teach him how to hide the evidence from his mom.

---

Being completely serious here, this doesn't impress me. It's the exact type of thing that goes on every day in real schools.

---

Random experiments led by the student, that weren't planned in the curriculum, happen in "real" schools?
I'm gonna have to disagree.

Gone Camping said:

---

1939 said:

---

MasonB said:

---

Better day to day example:

He just finished his math lesson on his own and came in to tell me one of the questions asked him the best unit to measure the weight of a dollar bill.

I told him I think a five dollar bill weighs 5 times as much as a single dollar bill and he told me my hypothesis was crazy, listing the reasons why.

I told him to prove it.

Which led to the picture.

And now he is collecting data on 10 different dollar bills and drawing conclusions about whether their weight changes the longer they are in circulation.

We are discussing sample size, unknown variables, and measurement error.

It's his curiosity and interest that is leading him, so he is having fun doing it (and fun proving me wrong).

But don't worry, TeslaAg - we will sneak some cigarettes in the bathroom later and I'll teach him how to hide the evidence from his mom.

---

Being completely serious here, this doesn't impress me. It's the exact type of thing that goes on every day in real schools.

---

Random experiments led by the student, that weren't planned in the curriculum, happen in "real" schools?
I'm gonna have to disagree.

---

Yeah, they don't. 99.9% of assignments are teacher-led, not student led.